Automatic washing machine



March 11, 1952 T. R. SMITH AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 27, 1947 March 11, 1952 T. R. SMITH 2,538,774

AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1947 REClRLl/LAT/NG VALVE FILL VALVE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Dian/N VAL ye Mon? WASH 72 SPIN WASH RuvsE SPIN FL usH SPIN SPIN ' IN V EN TOR. 7 nxLi/u BY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to laundry or washing machines and especially to a novel laundry machine operating on the isothermal principle.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel washing machine operating on an automatic cycle and in the novel washing unit or system for successively performing the operations of washing, rinsing and drying clothes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel automatic washing cycle including separate rinse water and wash water tanks or receptacles so interconnected that the relatively clean flush rinse water is pumped back into the rinse water tank adjacent the bottom thereof, and the overflow from this latter tank is directed to the bottom of the wash water tank to compensate for any loss of wash water in the latter tank.

The invention further coinprehends a novel system and principle of washing in which the flush rinse water, the agitator rinse Water and the wash water are all at the same temperature. In this novel principle there is disclosed a unique system and method of handling the water in which the flush rinse water replenishes the agitator rinse water and which in turn replenishes the supply of wash water to thereby compensate for any wash water retained in the clothes, and at the same time dilutes out the wash water so as to prevent the latter from becoming too dirty.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel means for and manner of conveying and discharging the flush rinse water into the rinse Water tank adjacent the bottom thereof whereby this flush rinse Water tends to remain near the bottom of the tank but causing the liquid level therein to rise so that the water at .the top of the tank and which is .partially polluted overflows into the wash water tank. Here again the overflow enters adjacent the bottom of the wash water tank and this relatively clean water tends to remain near the bottom of the tank. However, as the liquid level therein rises it causes the more polluted wash water to overflow and discharge into the drain.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel means and manner of automatically controlling the sequence of operations involved in the washing, rinsing and drying of the clothes. In the present novel system and arrangement, the operator need merely to adjust the timer and control mechanism and to insert the clothes to be washed, and the operations of washing, rinsing and centrifugal drying are successively carried out.

The invention further resides in the novel combination, arrangement and operation illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, and while there is disclosed therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modifi-' cation and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the novel washing unit or system for the automatic washing, rinsing and spin drying of fabrics.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring and control diagram showing the sequence of steps in the successive washing, rinsing and drying operations and the manner of controlling such steps.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the wash tub, the rinse water and the wash water tanks and showing. an alternate method and manner of admitting the flush rinse water to the bottom of the rinse water tank to raise the water level therein, the overflow of the dirtier or more polluted water from the upper level of the water in the rinse water tank and its admission to the bottom of the wash water tank to raise the level of the water in this tank and thereat discharge the dirtier water from the upper level.

Referring more particularly to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, the novel assembly comprises a hot water inlet 5 and a cold water inlet 2 both leading to a mixing valve 3 discharging into a pipe or line 4 and to a magnetically operated tank filling valve 5 leading to a rinse water tank 6. The pipe or line 4 also connects with a magnetically operated flush rinse valve 1 leading to a flush line 8 discharging into the top of a tub or rotatable washing receptacle 9.

In the rinse water tank 6 is provided an elongated baffle l0 extending from the top downwardly through a substantial portion of the depth of this tank. Adjacent the upper end of the space I l separated by the baffle H] from the tank 6 is a rinse water return l2 leading to a recirculating valve l3 which is preferably held in one position by means of a spring l3 and magnetically actuated to another through the arm Hi. In one position, this valve I3 is connected through the line l5, through a filter it to a recirculating pump l1 and from the pump through a drain line I8 connected with the lower end or base [9 of an overflow basin or receptacle encompassing the tub 9. In another position of the recirculating valve I3 as shown in Fig. 1, the rinse water return I2 is closed off and the line i5 is connected to the wash water return line 2! emptying into the top of a wash water tank 22.

The base or bottom 23 of the rinse water tank 6 is provided with a drain line 24 and also with a bottom float 25. The drain line 24 connects with a line 26 leading to the intake side of a rinse water pump 21, the discharge side of which connects with a rinse line 28 leading to and discharging into the tube 9.

The drain line 24 also leads to a check valve 29 for the wash water and to an oppositely disposed check valve 30 for the rinse water. Between these check valves is a line 3! leading through a magnetically operated drain valve 32. A line 33 leading from the drain valve connects to the intake side of a drain pump 34, the discharge side of this pump emptying into a drain line 35. A line or conduit 36 provides an overflow connecting at 31 with the upper end of the wash water tank 22.

The wash water tank 22 is provided with a baffle 38 similar to the bafile i6 separating oif a space 39 having an inlet 46 of a wash water tank fill line or conduit 4| connecting with a port 32 adjacent the upper end of the rinse water tank 6. In the tank 22 is provided a top float 43 actuated by the fluid level in this tank. The base or bottom 44 of this tank is provided with a drain line 45 and a bottom float 46, with the drain line connecting with a pipe or conduit 31 leading to the intake side of a wash water pump 46, and also with the line or conduit 47 leading to the rinse water check valve 36. The water from the pump is discharged into the line or conduit 49 and emptied into the top of the tub.

As clearly shown in Fig. l, a motor or other prime mover 50 provides a source of power for driving the four pumps (rinse water pump 21, the re-circulating pump [7, the drain pump 34 and the wash water pump 48) from the drive shaft 5| and pulley'wheel 52 through their respective Q pulley wheels 53, 54, 55 and 56 and belts or pulleys 5'! connecting these pumps. A smaller pulley wheel 58 also drives a pulley wheel 59 keyed or secured to the drive shaft 66 of a power drive in the gear case or housing 6|. Any suitable drive mechanism may be provided within the gear case or housing for giving oscillatory motion to the driven shaft 62 for oscillating a cup-shaped agitator 63 during the washing operation, and for rapidly rotating or spinning the tub 9 and contents during the centrifugal drying operation. The agitator 63, a strainer or perforated tub liner 64 disposed above and separate from the agitator, and the tub 5 may be similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 723,346, filed January 21, 1947, and Serial No. 199,951, filed December 9, 1950, now Patent Nos. 2,575,689 and 2,575,691, both issued November 20, 1951. In the present embodiment, the cup-shaped agitator 63 is preferably oscillated through a desired arc and at a speed to give the desired water action and washing efiiciency, while the agitator 63, strainer 64 and tub 9 are rapidly rotated in one direction for spin drying the clothes. This alternative operation is actuated by the gear shift 65 which is solenoid controlled for engaging or clutching the mechanism for either oscillatingthe agitator or rotating the tub and contents.

The wash water pump 48 and the rinse water pump 21, although adapted to be driven by the pulley wheels 56 and 53, respectively, from the motor or other power source 55, the operation of each is controlled by an electrically operated clutch 66 and 61, respectively. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these clutches are of the solenoid type.

The control mechanism and wiring diagram for the various electrically operated actuating or control means is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 and consists of a timing mechanism ineluding a drum controller 68 rotatably mounted on a shaft 69 of a timer motor 10 having a manual control knob H. The drum controller 68 is provided with a series of contacts 12, 13, 14, 75, 16, 16a, ll, 18 and 19 and certain aligned designations of the sequence of operations beginning with the start of the automatic cycle and carrying through the cycles including fill, wash fill, wash, spin, rinse fill, wash rinse, spin, flush spin, spin and ending with the stop or end of the cycle and sequence of operations. Fixed contacts 60 are provided which are engaged by the contacts movable with the drum.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate arrangement of baffles in the rinse water tank 6 and wash water tank 22. In this embodiment, the rinse water return [2 enters the rinse tank 6 adjacent the base or bottom 23 below a diffusing baffle 8| while the wash water tank fill line 4| is continued through the pipe or conduit 82 and enters the wash water tank 22 adjacent the base or bottom 44 below a diffusing baflie 83.

In the operation of the present novel automatic washing machine, the mixing valve 3 is preferably set at a constant temperature at approximately 120 F. which is suitable for washing all types of clothing. The cold water enters the mixing valve through the pipe or line 2 and the hot water through the pipe or line I The mixed water is conveyed from the mixing valve 3 to the tank filling valve 5 and to the flush rinse valve 1.

When the washing machine is turned on, the tank filling valve 5 opens and allows water at the proper temperature to flow into the rinse water tank 6. As the motor 55 has not started and the rinse water pump is not operating, the water entering the tank 6 cannot leave through the drain 24 in the bottom thereof. Furthermore, the check valve 30 prevents circulation of the rinse water into the wash water tank 22 and consequently the rinse water tank 6 fills up causing the float 25 at the bottom thereof to rise, after which the water level in this tank increases until it overflows through the wash water tank fill line or conduit 4| adjacent the top of the tank 6 and into the wash water tank 22. The wash water cannot run out of the drain 45 at the bottom of the tank 22 because the motor has not yet started and the check valve 29 prevents water from circulating back into the rinse water tank 6. When the wash water tank 22 becomes full the top float 43 therein raises. This top float has an electrical connection in series with the timer motor 10 so that when it is in the raised position the timer motor is energized to thereby advance the drum controller 68 to the position whereby the drive motor 50 is energized or started.

The drain. pump 34 and the re-circulating pump H are rotated with the motor 58. However, the operation of the wash water pump 48 and the rinse water pump 2'! is not affected because they are controlled by the magnetic or solenoid clutches 66 and 6?, respectively. No water is pumped by the drain pump 34 because the solenoid-actuated drain valve 32 is closed and no water is pumped by the re-circulating pump spasms l1 since thereis no water in the overflow basin i9. At this period in the cycle, the wash-water pump 48 is caused to operate by actuation of its solenoid clutch 66 wherebywater is pumped out of the wash water tank 22, through the wash water tank drain line 45, pipe t1 and the wash water line or pipe 4-9 into the tub 9. This continues until all the wash Water has been pumped out of the tank 22 into the tub ii, which time the bottom float 46 in the wash water tank cuts off the operation of thepump 48 by de-energization of the solenoid '56. The timer mechanism (see Fig. 2) is also energized by means of this float 46 so that the drive mechanism in the gear case or housing'tl is shifted into agitation by means of the shift or solenoid control -65 for the drive or power mechanism. The agitationcyole proceeds for a predeterminedtimeset by the operator whohas previously placed thesoapand clothing inside the tub- 9 and its perforated tub liner 64.

After the completion of the desired washing period, the timer shifts thedrive mechanism in the housing or gear case 8 I, through the solenoid control 55, into spin operation, andthe tub 9 and its contents rotate or spin whereby to force the water out through the openings in the perforated tub liner 64 up the sidewalls of the tub 9 and out through the overflow holes 84 inzthe tub. The re-circulating pump I? which is already running withdraws the water through drain line Hi from the overflow basin l9, pumps it through the filter l5 and the re-"circulating-valve 13 back into the wash water tank'22 by means of thewash water return pipe? I. Thisispinioperation continues :for a predetermined time suflicient to take all of the excess soapy water out of the clothing and pump all of the wash water from the tub and overflow basin back into the wash water tank 22.

Next the timer causes the rinse water pump 2'! to start up by means of the actuation of the electrically operated clutch 6'! and therebypumps the rinse water from the rinse water tank 6 through the rinse tank drain lines 26 and 26 into the tub 9 through the rinse water line 28. When the bottom float 25 drops because all of the water has been pumped out of the rinse water tank 6, the timer is again energized and the agitator 63 is caused to agitate or oscillate by means of the solenoid shift 'or control '65 for the mechanism in the power housing or-gear casing 6|.

After the clotheshave been agitated in the rinse water a predetermined time, the timer shifts the tub 9 into spin by means of solenoid shifter or control 65 and at the same time shifts the recirculating valve I3 to the'opposite position from that shown in Fig. 1, whereby the water which flows out through the openings or overflow holes 84 in the tub 9 due to the centrifugalforce-of 'ro tation is collected at the bottom of the overflow basin !9 and carried through thedrain I B'itherefrom into the re-circulating pump 11 throughthe filter i6 and the rinse water return 12 back into the rinse water tank 6. Thispumping is allowed to progress a predetermined time sufiicientto allow all the excess rinse water to be thrown out of the clothing in the tub 9 and also to be pumped back into the rinse water tank 6.

After this operation has been completed and while the tub 9 is still being rotated, the timer causes the flush rinse valve 1 to open for a predetermined time. The water coming from the mixing valve passes through the valve r7 into the flush line 8 where it sprays over the sclothing in 6' the tub 9 and is thrown outward against theside walls of the tub, up and out the overflow holes 84 and is collected at the-bottom of the overflow basin l9 from where it is also pumped into the tank 5. As this additional flush rinse water from the line or pipe 12 comes into the tank *6 it is discharged to the rear of'the bafile if! in the space H and is directed toward the bottom by means of this baffle. The quantity of flushrin se water delivered to the tank 6 displaces a like quantity of rinse water which is partially polluted with soap which flows out through the wash tank fill line or-conduit 4! where it enters the tank 22 and is directed by'the baffle 38 toward the bottom of the'same.

This displaced rinse water fills up the wash water tank to replace the'water retainedin the clothing at the end of the washing operation and after the tank 22 is filled to .the'overfiow opening 31, the remainder of the rinse "water displaces the upper-portion of the dirtier wash water through "the overflow opening '31 and conduit 36, from where it is pumped-down the drain 35 by means of the drain pump 34.

It is evident that the flush rinse water-discharged when the valve 7 is opened can be controlled, since the relatively'clean flush rinse water is directed to the bottom of'the rinse water tank 6, the upper portion of the dirtier water is displaced and flows by means of the fill line or pipe-=4! into the tank 22. The displaced rinse water which has been partially polluted with soap vduring the rinsing operation is still much cleaner than the wash water in tank 22; consequently, the rinse water entering adjacent the bottom of tank 22 fills this tank and displaces the wash'waterso that the dirtier wash water flows outthrough theoverflow opening 3?. The valve 1 may thus be adjusted so that the rinse water in the rinse water tank can be kept reasonably free from soap between each cycle and the Wash water in the wash water tank 22 can be kept reasonably clean by simply controlling the quantityof flush rinse water which goes through the valve 1.

After the flush rinseoperation has been completed, the timer causes the valve 1 to close but the tub'9 continues to spin for a predetermined time until the clothing in the tub is adequately dry, after which the timer deenergizes the control circuit to stop the tub and the clothes may be removed. The wash water in the wash water tank 22 is in condition for washing another batch of clothes and the rinse water in the rinse water tank It is also in condition for rinsing. A little additional soapmay need be added to the tub 9 when the next batch of clothes is placed in it in order to compensate for the soap carried into the rinse water and discharged down the drain.

The entire assembly is preferably insulated so that no heat of any great consequence would be lost either from the wash water-or from the rinse water. The entering flush rinse water is preferably the same temperature as the wash and rinse water and tends to help maintain the desired temperature thus, batch after batch of clothing may be washed continuously without the temperature of the water decreasing to too low a level, without the rinse water becoming toos'oapy and without the wash water becoming too dirty.

When the entire washing has been completed and the entire system is to be rendered inoperative, it is desirable not-to retain anywashwater to de-energize the motor 50 and permit the drain valve 32 to close and the entire system is now ready for the next washing operation.

The wiring diagram for operation of the washing cycle as shown in Fig. 2 is as follows:

Assuming the fabrics to be washed and the necessary detergent have been placed in the tub and the rinse and Wash water tanks are empty, the manual control knob H on the drum controller 68 is turned to the fill position thereby completing a circuit from the line or wire 85 throughthe magnetically operated fill valve 5, the upper wash water float 43 in the tank 22 and contact 12 on the drum controller to the line or wire 86. This opens the fill valve and permits water of the desired temperature to flow through the mixing valve 3 and enter the rinse tank 8 in the manner previously described.

The incoming water in the rinse tank 6 raises the lower float 25 in this tank and closes the contacts for the circuit through the solenoid $1 for the rinse pump 21, but due to the position of the contact 18 on the drum the circuit is not completed. When the rinse tank 6 is full, the overflow therefrom flows through the line or conduit 4| into the wash water tank 22 and the lower float 46 in this tank is actuated in a manner similar to the float 25 to close the contacts for the solenoid 66 of the wash water pump 48, but due to the position of the contact 13 on the drum this solenoid is not energized.

When the wash water in the tank 22 reaches its desired level as determined by the upper float 43, this float raises and deenergizes the flow valve circuit thereby stopping the flow of water to the machine. Simultaneously with the closing of this valve, a contact on the fioat 43 acts to energize and start the timer motor 18. The timer motor rotates the drum 68 to the wash fill position and at this position the circuit through the washing machine motor 50 is completed through the contact 13 and the motor starts. At this same time, the wash water pump solenoid 65 is energized through the contact 14 to connect the wash water pump 48 to the motor 50. The timer motor is then stopped because the contact i2 on the drum is broken and the lower float 46 in the wash tank 22 is in its raised or upper position.

Operation of the wash water pump 48 removes the wash water from the wash water tank 22 and delivers it to the tub 9 where it is utilized in the washing of the clothes. When substantially all the water is removed from this tank 22 the lower float 45 drops, thus breaking the circuit through the solenoid 66 for the wash water pump and stops the pump but at the same time starts the timer motor again through the contact 14. As the drum is advanced, the contact 75 on the drum energizes the gear shift solenoid 65 to move the gear or drive mechanism in the gear case or housing 6| to its agitating position for washing the fabrics. At the end of the washing period the drum 68 has been advanced to pass the first portion of the contact 15 to deenergize the solenoid 65 from its agitating position and to energize the solenoid through the spin contact 16 to its spin position to thereby cause the gear shift to move and rotate the tub 9 and contents at high speed to extract the wash Water from the fabrics being washed and from the tub. At the same time the timer motor 10 is energized through the contact 16a. At this time the circulating valve I3 is positioned by the spring I311 so that wash water discharged from the tub 9 is directed back to the wash water tank 22 by means of the re-circulating pump ll. The wash water leaving the tub 9 flows back into the wash water tank 22 and resets the lower float 46 therein for subsequent use.

When the spin period has been completed, the timer motor 10 is stopped, and the solenoid 61 for the rinse water pump 21 is energized through the contact 18 to pump the rinse water into the tub 9. When substantially all of the rinse water has been removed from the rinse water tank 6, its lower float 25 acts to disconnect the rinse water pump 21 from the motor 59 and at the same time a back contact is closed to again start the timer motor Ill. The timer motor now advances the controller drum 58 and its contact I5 shifts the gear shift solenoid 65 to its agitating position (in which the agitator alone oscillates) for wash rinse.

After a predetermined period of time the contact l5 controlling the agitator is opened and the contact i6 is closed to cause the tub 9 to be rotated at high speed to remove the rinse water from the tub. The re-circulating valve l3 which is positioned by the solenoid energized through the contact H and the re-circulating pump I? direct the rinse water back to the rinse water tank 6, and the timer motor circuit is again completed through the timer contact 16a because the lower float 25 is positioned by the rinse water for the next cycle.

When the rinse water has been removed from the tub, the controller drum 68 closes the circuit through the flush rinse valve 1 through the contact 19 and the flush rinse water is admitted directly to the tub 9 while the tub is spinning. This flush rinse water is pumped to the rinse water tank 6 and the overflow flows to the wash water tank 22 through the conduit 41 in the manner as previously described.

After the flush rinse period has been completed, the tub 9 is spun for an additional period of time whereupon the washing cycle is completed. The motor 50 and the timer motor 10 are stopped and the washed fabrics are removed, after which the cycle may be repeated, if desired, for any number of washings. When it is desired to remove the water from the tanks 6 and 22, the drain valve 32 is operated by closing its electrical circuit by means of the switch and the drain pump 34 discharges all of the water to the drain.

The upper float valve 43 in the wash water tank 22 may be placed in either the wash or rinse water tanks and the tank filling valve 5 may admit water to the wash tank instead of the rinse tank. Also, the tank filling valve 5 may admit water in the bottom of either one of the tubs instead of at the top.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a rinse water tank, a wash water tank, a conduit for cross-connecting the upper portion of the rinse water tank to the wash water tank and said connection defining a liquidlevel for therinsewater tank, electrically controlled valve means for admitting water to fecting a washing. operation in said tub. and for removing wash water from the tub after a predetermined length of time for delivery back to the wash water tank, means for deliveringrinse Water from the rinse water tank to the tub for rinsing the clothes, means including said drive means for removing and returning the rinse water to the rinse water tank after the rinsing operation, a valve for supplying a quantity of fresh flush rinse water directly to the tub for flush rinsing the clothes, said last mentioned meansremoving and delivering the flush rinse water discharged from the tub to the rinse water tank to cause a portion of the rinse water to flow through the conduit into the wash water tank,

and an overflow from the wash water tank to drain.

2. In a clothes washing machine, a container for receiving clothes to be washed, a rinse water tank, a wash water tank, a conduit connecting the upper portion-of the rinse water tank to define a water level to the wash water tank, a valve for admitting water to one of the tanks to fill the same to said water level which then flows through the conduit to the other tankto fill it to a predetermined level, means for interrupting-the flow of water through said valve when both tanks have reached their predetermined levels, means for removing water from the wash water tank. and delivering it to the tub wherein it is utilized to wash the clothes, means for withdrawing water from the tub after the washing operation and returning it to the wash water tank, means for removing water from the rinse water tank and delivering it to the tub for rinsing the clothes, valve controlled means for returning the rinse water to the rinse water tank, avalve for admitting fresh water to the tub for flush rinsing the clothes, the fiushrinse water discharged from the tub being delivered to the rinse water tank by said valve controlled means to displace and cause a portion of the rinse water to flow through the conduit to the wash water tank to thereby dilute the polluted wash water, and means for discharging to drain the displaced wash water above a predetermined level.

3. In a clothes washing machine, a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a pair of water reservoirs having a cross connection therebetween disposed at a predetermined level through which water fiows, means for supplying water to the reservoirs until a predetermined level is reached, means for selectively connecting and discharging the contents of either of said reservoirs to said tub and for returning the contents from the tub to the selected reservoir, means for supplying water directly to the tub, means for removing and delivering the water supplied directly to said tub to one of the reservoirs and thereby displacing water therein and causing the displaced water above a predetermined level to flow to the other reservoir through the cross connection to displace water therein, and means for removing the displaced water in this latter reservoir above a predetermined level.

4, In a clothes washing machine, a tubwhere- 10 in clothes'are to be washed, a pair of water-reservoirs having a cross connection disposed therebetween with one end disposed at a predetermined level through which water flows, valve means for supplying Water to the reservoirs until a predetermined level is reached, means for selectively connecting and discharging the contents of either of said reservoirs to said tub and for returning the contents from the tub to the selected reservoir, second valve means for admitting water directly to the tub, means for subsequently delivering this water from the tubtoone of the reservoirs to thereat displace a quantity of the water contained in the last mentioned reservoir and cause the displaced water to flow through the cross connection into the other reservoir when a predetermined level is reached, and an overflow connection for removing waterfrom the other reservoir above a predetermined level.

5. In a clothes washing machine, a tub-wherein clothes are to be washed, a plurality of water reservoirs connected in series and having a cross connection therebetween disposed at a predetermined level through which water flows, means for selectivelyconnecting and discharging the contents of either of said reservoirs to said-tub and for returning the contents from the tubto'the selected reservoir, means for supplying rinse water directly to the tub, means for delivering the water supplied to the tub to one of the reservoirs and displacing a quantity or" the water contained therein whereby the displaced waterilows through the cross connection to another reservoir and therein displaces a quantity of Water contained in this reservoir, and means for withdrawing the displaced water from the last mentioned reservoir above a predetermined leveL 6. In a washing machine for'c leaning fabrics, a tub wherein fabrics are to be cleaneda rinse water reservoir, a wash water reservoir having an overflow connection disposed at a predetermined level, a passage for conducting Water between said wash water and rinse water reservoirs and disposed at the upper'portion of said rinse water reservoir to define a predetermined water level for said last mentioned reservoir, an electrically operated valve for supplying water to one of the reservoirs and when the water reaches the predetermined level flows through the passage to the other reservoir, a switch for closing the valve when a predetermined level has been reached in the reservoirs, means for delivering the water in the wash water reservoir to the tub wherein it is utilized for cleaning the fabrics, means for returning the wash water from the tub tothe wash water reservoir after a predeterminedtime interval, means for delivering the water in the rinse water reservoir to the tub wherein it is utilized for rinsing the washed fabrics and wherein it is partially polluted by the wash water left in the fabrics, valve controlled means for returning the partially polluted rinse water to the rinse Water reservoir after a predetermined time interval, and

' a valve for supplying flushing water directly'to the tub, said valve controlled means subsequently delivering this flushing water from the tub to the rinse water reservoir in such manner as to displace the upper level of polluted rinse water therein and cause a'minimum of mixing, the displaced rinse water flowing through the passage to the wash water reservoir to displace therein polluted wash water in a like manner to thereby prevent the upper level of wash water having a high percentage of pollution from becoming diluted with the relatively clean rinse Water, and said clothes to be washed, a rinse water tank, a wash water tank, means for supplying Water to the tub and tanks at approximately the same temperature, means for selectively discharging the water from either tank into the tub, a cross connection for connecting the upper portion of the rinse water tank to the upper portion of the wash water tank and defining a water level forthe rinse water tank, a bafile disposed in the muse water tank whereby water enters the rinse water tank adjacent the bottom thereof, raises the level;

of the water in said tank and causes the water above the water level to overflow through the, cross connection into the wash water tank, and a baflle in the wash water tank for directing this overflow toward the bottom of the wash water'go tank and therein raise the level of the wash water whereby the water from the top of the wash water tank overflows and is discharged.

8. In a washing machine having a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a receptacle forrinse water, a separate receptacle for wash water, means for selectively discharging the water from either receptacle to the tub, a passage between said receptacles and defining a water level in the rinse water receptacle for conveying waterei/BO from the top of the rinse water receptacle to the wash water receptacle, means for directing this water to adjacent the bottom of the wash water receptacle whereby to raise the level of the wash water, and a drain from the top of the wash water receptacle for discharging polluted water thereat.

9. In a washing machine, a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a rinse water tank, a. wash water tank, means for supplying water to the tub .40

and tanks at approximately the same temperature, means for selectively discharging the water from either tank into the tub, means for selectively discharging the water in the tub to either of said tanks, means for directing the water discharged into the rinse water tank from the tub toward the bottom of this tank, means for connecting the rinse water, tank and the wash water tank in such manner that the returned rinse water raises the level of the water in the rinse water Q0 tank and causes the water at the top thereof to overflow through the connecting means into the wash water tank, means for directing this overflow toward the bottom of the wash water tank,

and means for draining oil and discharging the,

water at the top of the Wash water tank as the level in said tank rises,

10. In a washing machine, a tube for washing clothes by agitation and drying the washed clothes by centrifugal action, a receptacle for re- 60 ceiving rinse water, a receptacle for receiving wash water, connections between the tub and the receptacles to selectively supply the tub with wash water and then with rinse water, a connection between the receptacles for the passage of Water and defining a water level for one of said receptacles, a valve for delivering water to said last mentioned receptacle and when that receptacle is filled overflowing through the connection therebetween into the other receptacle until the same 7 is filled, means responsive to a predetermined liquid level in said last-mentioned receptacle for terminating the flow of water and bafile means in said other receptacle for directing the water flowing through this connection to adjacent the bot- 12 tom of that receptacle whereby the incoming water causes a minimum of disturbance in the water thereabove. 4

11. In a washing machine having a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a receptacle for receiving rinse water, a receptacle for receiving wash water, connection between the tub and the receptacles to selectively supply the tub with wash water and then with rinse water, a connection between the receptacles for the passage of water and defining a water level for one of'the receptacles, means for delivering water to one of the receptacles and when that receptacle is filled overflowing through the connection therebetween into the other receptacle until the same is filled, means responsive to a predetermined liquid level in said last mentioned receptacle for terminating the flow of water and means for directing the overflow of liquid through this connection to ad jacent the bottom of the other receptacle whereby the incoming water causes a minimum of disturbance in the body of water-,thereabove.

12. In a washing machine having a tub for receiving clothes to be washed, separate receptacles for containing rinse water and wash water, connections between the tub and the receptacles to supply the tub with wash water and then with rinse water, a passage connecting the rinse water receptacle to the Wash water receptacle and defining a water level for the rinse Water receptacle and receiving and directing the overflow from the same into the wash water receptacle, a baffle disposed adjacent the connection to said wash water receptacle for directing the rinse water overflow below the normal liquid level in said wash water receptacle to displace a quantity of the wash water with a quantity of the rinse water, and an overflow connection disposed at a predetermined level in the wash water receptacle for conducting the displaced Wash water to drain.

13. In a washing machine for washing, rinsing and drying of clothes, a tub, a rinse water tank, a Wash water tank, a connection between the tanks at the upper portion thereof to define a water level for said rinse water tank, valve means for supplying water at the desired Washing temperature to one of the tanks and when that tank is filled to the desired water level, overflowin through the connection into the other tank until the latter is filled to the desired water level, means for disconnecting the supply means when both the tanks have been filled, means for supplying the tub with water from the wash water tank for the washing operation, means for returning the water to the wash water tank after the washing operation, means for supplying the tub with rinse water from the rinse water tank for the rinsing operation, means forreturning the rinse water to the rinse water tank after the rinsing operation, a valve for supplying the tub with flush water for flushing the clothes, and said last named means delivering the flush Water adjacent the bottom of the rinse water tank during the flushing operation and thereby increasing the depth of water in the rinse water tank whereby the water at the upper level overflows through the connection to the wash water tank, means for directing and delivering the overflow through the connection to adjacent the bottom of the wash water tank to increase the depth therein, and an overflow in the wash water tank disposed at a predetermined level to direct and drain all wash water above said level.

14. A clothes washing machine for washing, rinsing and drying of the clothes, comprising a tub for receiving the clothes and in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and dried, sep receptacles for storing wash water and rinse water, a connection between these receptacles d fining a liquid level for said rinse water receptacle, means for pumping the water from the wash water receptacle to the tub, means for agitating the clothes during the washing period, means for rapidly rotating the tub and contents for centrifugally removing the wash water from the tub and clothes, means for returning the separated wash water from the tub to the wash water receptacle, means for pumping the rinse water from the rinse water receptacle to the tub, control means for again operating the agitating means for agitating the clothes in the rinse water, control means for again operating the rotating means for rapidly rotating the tub and contents for centrifugally removing the rinse Water from the clothes and tub, means for returning the rinse water from the tub to the rinse water receptacle, means for supplying flush rinse water to the tub, the flush rinse water being centrifugally removed and separated from the clothes and tub and pumped to the bottom of the rinse water receptacle to raise the level of the water therein and displace the water in the top of this receptacle and discharge this displaced water through the connection into the wash water receptacle to raisethe level of the water therein, and a passage in the Wash water tank defining a water level therefor for conducting the displaced wash water to drain.

15. In a washing machine operating on the automatic cycle principle in which the water for Washing and rinsing the clothes is at approXimately the same temperature, a tub in which the clothes are washed and rinsed, separate storage receptacles for the wash and rinse water, means for selectively discharging the water from either receptacle into the tub, means for returning the rinse water and wash water to their respective receptacles for reuse, and means for replenishing the wash water and rinse water and replacing the more polluted w-ater collected in each receptacle, said last mentioned means including an overflow passage connected from adjacent the upper portion of the rinse water receptacle to the wash water receptacle for conveying thereto the overflow from the rinse water receptacle and means for directing this overflow to adjacent the bottom of the wash water receptacle, and an overflow connection from adjacent the upper portion of the wash water receptacle to drain.

16. In a washing machine operating on the automatic cycle principle in which the water for washing and rinsing the clothes is at approximately the same temperature, a container in which the clothes are washed and rinsed, separate receptacles for storing wash water and rinse water, means for supplying the container with means for gradually replenishing the wash Water I and rinse water in their receptacles and discharge the foreign matter collected in the water in the upper level of each receptacle and make relatively clean Water available for reuse in subsequent washing and rinsing operations, said last mentioned means including an overflow passage connecting the upper portion of the rinse Water receptacle to the lower portion of the Wash water receptacle through which is discharged the overflow from the rinse water receptacle above a predetermined w-ater level.

17. In a washing machine, a rotatable tub for receiving clothes to be washed, a liquid reservoir having an overflow opening therein defining a liquid level, means for supplying liquid to said reservoir, means responsive to a predetermined amount of liquid supplied to said reservoir for interrupting the liquid supply, a pump for conducting the liquid in said reservoir to said tub, drive means for effecting a Washing operation in said tub and for rotating said tub to discharge the liquid therefrom, means for conducting and directing the discharged liquid back to said reservoir below the normal liquid level therein, and means including a valve for supplying a predetermined quantity of rinsing liquid to said tub while it is rotated above a predetermined speed to discharge said rinsing liquid therefrom to said conducting means, said rinsing liquid being directed by said conducting means below the normal liquid level in said reservoir toward the lower portion thereof to displace and cause a portion of the liquid in the upper portion of said reservoir to flow through said overflow opening.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 415,314 Singer Nov. 19, 1889 690,082 Snyder Dec. 31, 1901 766,365 Lough Aug. 2, 1904 783,196 Hatschek Feb. 21, 1905 1,002,929 Pohlmann Sept. 12, 1911 1,037,280 Matter Sept. 3, 1912 1,508,828 Wholey Sept. 16, 1924 1,849,283 Crane Mar. 15, 1932 1,892,441 Wales Dec. 27, 1932 1,920,469.. Jones Aug. 1, 1933 2,325,837 Dyer Aug. 3, 1943 2,421,803 Neal June 10, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 834,892 France Dec. 5, 1938 

